During the academic year, faculty, staff, and students are in constant motion as the calendar propels us forward at breakneck speed. Some might assume that much of this work comes to a screeching halt when students complete final exams and projects and the tent on Farrell Field comes down after Commencement Weekend. While the tempo slows for some faculty and staff members, the forward momentum continues into June and beyond for much of our community as we welcome Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) to campus.
Gordon Research Conferences provide an international forum for frontier research in the biological, chemical, physical, and engineering sciences, fostering deep scientific exchange. Established in 1931, GRC now organizes over 300 conferences annually, attracting more than 30,000 participants globally, and is renowned for its off-the-record policy that promotes the sharing of unpublished research and collaboration.
This summer, Proctor will welcome just under 1,400 scientists over nine weeks to our beautiful corner of New Hampshire. While detailed historical records are difficult to come by, GRC records indicate that Proctor has served as a conference venue since at least 1967. Over the last several decades, Proctor has hosted approximately ten Nobel Laureates.
We are grateful for this longstanding partnership allowing our campus to continue to serve as a hub of learning in the Lakes Region during the summer months. At the heart of this operation is the GRC core group, led by Venue Manager Starr Middleton P'21, '25, now in her impressive 27th season with GRC. Starr and her team’s commitment ensures a seamless, productive, and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. In true Proctor fashion, hosting GRC scientists is a colossal community effort across departments, bringing together faculty, staff, current students and parents, recent graduates, and parents and grandparents of alumni to ensure the conferences run smoothly.
Our Facilities team maintains pristine outdoor spaces across campus throughout the summer, allowing conference attendees to take full advantage of the grounds. Informal work sessions in Adirondack chairs, walks along campus paths, and access to playing fields and the Proctor Woodlands trail network have become hallmarks of the GRC experience at Proctor.
The Dining Services team, under the leadership of Barb Major P'06, '09, demonstrates its culinary creativity by preparing delicious and healthy meals for conferees. A highlight is Thursday night's "lobster night," which often introduces visitors from outside New England to this regional delicacy.
Our Housekeeping Team, led by Director Cindy LaValley, ensures comfortable accommodations for all attendees. Cindy recently reflected on the contributions of a key member of her GRC team:
“Jane our morning coffee/snack person, is the Housekeeping face of GRC. She starts around 5:30 am, setting up in front of the Meeting House, greeting everyone who comes through, asking how they are doing, and if she can help them with anything. She loves having interactions with the guests.”
The GRC experience at Proctor provides opportunities for outdoor recreation both on campus and nearby that parallel some of those enjoyed by Proctor students. Starr highlighted the variety of local excursions, noting that they "offer trips to the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog, a small town tour (Andover Historical Society, Walker Brook, and Danbury Country Store), Wellington State Park, and Mt. Kearsarge." The GRC partnership extends beyond our campus. Through their patronage during afternoon trips, GRC has raised over $1,000 for the Andover Historical Society.
The entire GRC team takes immense pride in their work, recognizing its dual importance: it contributes significantly to Proctor's revenue model while also supporting the livelihood of our faculty and staff during the summer months. Susan Lapper from Dining Services highlighted her team's dedication to providing an exceptional guest experience, adding that a bit of friendly rivalry with another nearby GRC venue—an unnamed private college in New London—serves as additional motivation. What truly sets Proctor apart as a venue is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere—a hallmark of the "Proctor magic" that our students experience year-round.
While the Gordon Research Conferences are a significant focus of our summer activities, this season also provides a vital opportunity for many departments to advance critical projects and tackle long-standing tasks. Kurt Meier, Director of Facilities, reflects on his team’s summer work:
“The Facilities Department completed numerous projects across campus. Major tasks involved renovating buildings like Mac House and Burbank West Apartment, upgrading HVAC systems, snowmaking pipe upgrades at the Proctor Ski Area, paving parking lots, improving walkways, and conducting extensive grounds maintenance. We also performed interior updates in faculty apartments and dormitories and replaced equipment. It has been a very busy summer, and we are proud of the work that is being done.”
As we approach the end of July, this summer's momentum will soon seamlessly flow into fall preparations. As Cindy LaValley notes, "Next week is our last big number of guests week, and we're looking forward to slowing down a bit to begin to think about the new school year!" A flurry of start-of-year activities will kick off at the end of August, starting with the Day Student Picnic, New Student Registration, and Wilderness Orientation 2024, the official start of the Proctor experience for new students.
Learn more about Proctor's Faculty and Staff here!
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